Garcia's struggles aren't surprising




Kevin Kleps 10/02/2004




At least not when factoring in Browns' list of
fantasy flops

Watching Jeff Garcia run for his life and look
like anything but the quarterback who threw a
combined 63 touchdown passes in the 2000 and 2001
seasons, a thought came to mind.
When was the last time the Browns had a fantasy
stud?
Yes, I realize that question - not what's wrong
with the offense? Or when is the last time the
Browns had an adequate offensive line? - might be
a pretty good indicator of a person playing in
too many fantasy football leagues.
But think about this for a second: The Browns
drafted first overall in 1999 and 2000, third in
2001 and sixth in 2004. They had plenty of money
to sign free agents. They had plenty of
salary-cap room at the beginning.
And they've had zero 1,000-yard rushers, one
3,000-yard passer, one 1,000-yard receiver and
zero players with 10 or more touchdowns in a
season.
That's in five seasons.
As a frame of reference, there were 21 players
with at least 10 touchdowns, 18 1,000-yard
rushers, 16 3,000-yard passers and 14 1,000-yard
receivers in 2003. In 2002, there were 22
1,000-yard receivers, 17 players with at least 10
TDs, 17 1,000-yard rushers and 17 3,000-yard
passers.
The Browns' best fantasy player in the last five
seasons was Kevin Johnson, who was released by
Coach Butch Davis last season, instead of being
traded for a draft pick after the season.
Johnson caught 84 passes for 1,097 yards and nine
touchdowns in 2001. In his rookie season, 1999,
he had 66 receptions for 986 yards and eight TDs.
The only other Browns receiver to come close to
1,000 yards was Quincy "If It Hits My Hands,
There's No Guarantee I'll Catch It" Morgan, who
had 56 receptions for 964 yards and seven TDs in
2002.
Since 1999, the Browns have had only one player -
William Green, who had 887 yards and six TDs in
2002 - rush for more than 559 yards.
Their only 3,000-yard passer in that span was Tim
Couch, the top pick in the 1999 draft who is now
out of football. Couch had 3,040 yards in 2001,
but threw more interceptions (21) than touchdown
passes (17).
The Browns' best fantasy option in the last five
seasons? Probably their 2001 defense, which had
33 interceptions, forced 42 turnovers, and had 43
sacks and five return touchdowns.
In the offseason, the Browns thought they solved
many of their offensive woes when they signed
Garcia as a free agent and drafted Kellen Winslow
Jr. sixth overall.
Winslow is on injured reserve with a broken
fibula, and Garcia has been, well, worse than
Couch. The three-time Pro Bowler is last among
NFL starting quarterbacks with a rating of 56.5.
With Winslow out and the Browns' best lineman,
Ryan Tucker, also injured, Garcia is no longer a
fantasy starter.
But why would he be?
He's a Brown.

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Five to start

This week's look at fringe starters or regular
backups who should benefit from a good matchup or
other factors:
n Duce Staley, RB, and Plaxico Burress, WR,
Pittsburgh, at Cincinnati - Staley still hasn't
scored a touchdown but last week did have his
first 100-yard game as a Steeler. Burress (five
catches, 103 yards, zero TDs) is still an enigma.
Lucky for him, he gets to face a Bengals team
that has allowed 54 points in its two losses.
Staley will run against a defense that ranks 31st
in the league (166 rushing yards per game) and is
allowing a league-high 5.7 yards per carry.
n Aaron Stecker, RB, New Orleans, at Arizona -
Last week, Stecker rushed for 106 yards, scored a
touchdown and caught four passes in his first
start in place of Deuce McAllister. This week, he
faces the league's most generous team against the
run, Arizona, which is allowing 180.7 rushing
yards per game and 5.3 yards per attempt.
n Kerry Collins, QB, Oakland, at Houston -
Collins' first start as a Raider is against the
Texans, who have given up a league-high eight TD
passes.
n DeShaun Foster, RB, Carolina, vs. Atlanta -
This one falls into the hunch category. The
Falcons are the NFL's second-best run defense,
but Foster (32 carries, 174 yards, one TD two
weeks ago against Kansas City) was outstanding in
his first start of the season.

Last week

The three quarterbacks - Aaron Brooks (316 yards,
TD, 24 yards rushing), Trent Green (226 yards,
three TDs) and Jake Plummer (294 yards, two TDs)
- were productive, as was wide receiver Amani
Toomer (five receptions, 126 yards).
The only dud on the list was Peerless Price, who
had two catches for 16 yards against the winless
Cardinals.



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